news 8 August 2026 Nile Post

Ndeeba Church Demolition: A Look Back at the Controversial Event

Four years ago, St. Peter's Church in Ndeeba was controversially demolished under the cover of night, sparking outrage and legal battles that continue to this day. The incident occurred during strict COVID-19 lockdown measures in Uganda. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/362073/today-in-history-st-peters-church-in-ndeeba-demolished

On the night of August 9, 2020, St. Peter’s Church in Ndeeba, Kampala, met a sudden and destructive end. The Anglican place of worship, which had served the community for approximately 40 years, was razed to the ground by an excavator amidst heavy security presence. This act occurred under the cloak of darkness, during a period of strict COVID-19 lockdown and a nationwide night curfew.

The demolition thrust a long-standing land dispute into the national spotlight. The core of the conflict revolved around Plot 20 and 22, Block 12 in Ndeeba. The land was originally donated to the Church of Uganda in the 1970s by the late Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga of Namirembe. However, following his passing, members of his family initiated a legal challenge, contesting the church’s ownership.

In June 2019, the High Court Land Division ruled in favor of administrators of Nsubuga’s estate, deeming them the rightful owners and classifying the church as a trespasser. An eviction order followed, though legal appeals and administrative efforts to resolve the matter were ongoing.

The destruction of the church drew immediate and widespread condemnation from religious leaders, politicians, and the public. Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu of the Church of Uganda visited the site and denounced the demolition as sacrilege. President Yoweri Museveni also condemned the act as illegal, promising government support for rebuilding and ordering an investigation.

The aftermath saw arrests of senior police officers and other officials, along with court bailiffs and businessman Dodoviko Mwanje, who faced charges related to the demolition and alleged property removal. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit investigated the circumstances, particularly how the eviction was executed during curfew hours.

Years later, the legal saga continued. In April 2025, the Court of Appeal overturned the eviction order, declaring the 2020 demolition illegal and ruling that the Church of Uganda should retain possession of the land pending a new determination of ownership. The court also placed an injunction on a proposed UGX 3.8 billion government compensation payment. The Ndeeba site remains a poignant reminder of this contentious dispute, with the church currently using temporary structures while awaiting the final court decision on land ownership.